Ohio State could have used a bye week before it played Indiana. It, once again, could’ve used a week off before playing Minnesota. And it certainly could use a week to recuperate, re-energize and get healthy before playing Purdue.
But that’s not going to happen.
The banged-up Buckeyes will make their way to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on Purdue in their eighth game of the season, the final contest before getting their long-awaited week off. It’s the first time since 2015 that they have waited until the ninth week of the season for their open week.
This certainly hasn’t been the best season for Ohio State to play eight straight games without a break. It has avoided a flurry of major injuries, save for the core muscle injury that has kept Nick Bosa sidelined since the third week of the season. But the Buckeyes have been hit with a variety of minor injuries that have hindered more than a few key players, including concussions that kept Malik Harrison and Jonathon Cooper out of Saturday’s game.
Let’s take a quick look through the roster to see how each position has been affected by injuries this season:
- Quarterback: Matthew Baldwin is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during his senior season in his school and has not appeared on any depth chart this season, but should be close to returning.
- Running back: Mike Weber has played with a foot strain this season that has bothered him, but hasn’t kept him out of any games.
- Wide receiver: Kamryn Babb continues his recovery from a torn ACL.
- Tight end: Jake Hausmann missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury.
- Offensive line: Brady Taylor underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, but Ohio State hopes to have him back soon. Brandon Bowen suffered a broken leg last season, and last week Urban Meyer said he is “close” to returning. Thayer Munford rolled an ankle against Minnesota and remains sore, but is probable for Saturday’s game.
- Defensive line: Nick Bosa remains out with a core muscle injury that he suffered during the third week of the season. Robert Landers missed the Tulane game and has been hampered recently with an injury. Dre’Mont Jones suffered a foot injury in the Penn State game that left him at only “80 percent” for the next week, but he did not see any decrease in playing time and has played every game. Jonathon Cooper (concussion) did not play against Minnesota despite going through warm-ups, but is expected to play on Saturday. After the Tulane game, Meyer said Chase Young had battled “a little bit of an ankle” injury.
- Linebacker: Malik Harrison missed Saturday’s game with a concussion, but is expected to return to the field against Purdue. Tuf Borland suffered an Achilles injury in the spring and eased into the season, but is now at full strength.
- Cornerback: Damon Arnette left Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury and is questionable for Saturday’s game against Purdue. Sevyn Banks dealt with an undisclosed injury and did not dress until the Indiana game. Marcus Williamson has missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury.
- Safety: Jordan Fuller missed the season opener with a hamstring injury, but has played in every other game. Marcus Hooker and Amir Riep dealt with injuries earlier in the season, but both have returned to play.
- Special Teams: Sean Nuernberger strained his groin and quad before Saturday's game, and Meyer said the kicking job is "open for conversation."
That’s an incomplete list, since some players have assuredly played through unknown injuries, but it paints the picture of a team that needs a break, a week off or something. But that’s not coming right away.
Purdue, which has won three games in a row, stands in Ohio State’s way.
“Obviously big road game, a team that is very good on film, obviously, and scoring a lot of points,” Urban Meyer said on Monday. “We've got to get some guys healthy and get ready to go.”
Getting “some guys” healthy means getting some starters healthy. Ohio State hasn’t had its starting defense fully healthy since the second game of the season, and it missed five starters for the majority of the Saturday’s 30-14 win against Minnesota.
Harrison and Cooper did not play. Arnette and Landers both exited midway through the game. Bosa remained out. Even on the offensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes were dealt a blow when Munford got his ankle caught between two players in the third quarter and left the game.
None of those players have injuries that can completely heal in one week, but Meyer expects most to play against the Boilermakers. Harrison and Cooper will play, and Landers and Munford are probable. Arnette is questionable, and Bosa will once again sit out.
The team – and the defense, specifically – has been hobbled, which could be a reason for recent lackluster performance.
“Last week, we were out five starters on the majority of the game on defense. It's hard to drastically change right now,” Meyer said. “We held them without scoring for the better part of three quarters, and had three turnovers and three sacks. I see (the defensive issues), as well. We expect them to be snuffed out. But this will be a big challenge this week with everything you just said, that's what we do all day is just constant evaluation.”
Against Purdue, which averages more than 500 yard per game, there will be no rest.
If Arnette plays, he and the other cornerbacks will be chasing players like Rondale Moore (45 catches, 558 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Isaac Zico (20 catches, 399 yards, 2 touchdowns. Banged-up versions of Landers, Harrison and Cooper will be among those trying to stop D.J. Knox (87 carries, 540 yards, 5 touchdowns).
However hobbled Ohio State feels, there will be no slowing down against the offense run by head coach Jeff Brohm, whom Meyer called “very aggressive.”
The bye week can’t come soon enough for the Buckeyes. They just have to hope it didn’t come too late to affect the outcome of their season.
